Nichole Fitzpatrick affirmed her status as the queen of the rodeo circuit on Saturday night.
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The Willow Tree cowgirl was crowned the ABCRA’s top cowgirl for a remarkable seventh straight year.
Her eighth all-round cowgirl title in total, the 33-year-old finished over 60 points clear of her nearest rival, Coonamble’s Bianca Hertel.
She also won her sixth breakaway roping national title after entering the finals in second position.
“I had a good finals roping,” the humble and unassuming cowgirl said.
After placing third on the opening night and winning the second round to surge up the standings, Fitzpatrick needed to be faster than 2.78 seconds in her final run to finish on top.
She was, making the catch in 2.70.
It put her fourth for the round and secured her the finals average buckle.
“I was really happy,” Fitzpatrick said of her finals performance.
“I have to thank Norm and Jane (Stagg). They were my support team for the final.”
Fitzpatrick was also just pipped by Madison Pearce in the race for the steer undecorating title and finished runner-up to Hertel in the barrel racing.
Making her success all the more impressive is the fact that she was out of the saddle for a couple of months thanks to a broken arm last December.
After competing in last years finals 10 days after getting her cast off, she had to have her arm re-operated on in July after it was discovered the pins had gone into her tendons.
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Having achieved pretty much everything in the sport, Fitzpatrick said the enjoyment was what drove her to continue to push herself.
“We just enjoy it," she said.
“It’s just a passion you have with your horses.”
She said it is always fun to compete at the finals, Saturday night’s final round marking her last ride on barrel racing horse “Justa”.
”She’s being retired now. She’s in foal,” Fitzpatrick said.
She’s been her barrel racing horse for about five/six years.
AELEC was pumping for the final night of competition, which provided plenty of thrills and spills, and excitement as the 2017 national champions were decided.
- NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: All-round cowboy – Ben Lees, All-round cowgirl – Nichole Fitzpatrick, steer undecorating – Madison Pearce, breakaway roping – Nichole Fitzpatrick, ladies barrel race – Biana Hertel, team roping header – Campbell Hodson, team roping heeler - Lachlan Smith, saddlebronc – Ben Lees, bareback – Travis Heeb, bull ride - Cliff Richardson, steer wrestling – Glen Chape, rope and tie – Heath Nichols.
